Disneyland in Life - August 15, 1955

Staying with yesterday’s “Magazine” themed post, today let’s set the way back machine to August 15, 1955. This is a four page article on Disneyland from Life Magazine. I didn’t scan the cover; it has no Disneyland references and has a not so flattering photo of General MacArthur.

Interesting how only four pages were dedicated to this Disneyland article. MacArthur gets 25 pages and an article on a 1950’s house wife “The 80-hour work week” gets 10 pages! I guess Disneyland was still not a “sure thing” just a few weeks after its opening, therefore if only gets four pages. And it’s very “light” on the text.

First up, the Tea Cups with no paint on the deck! That’s the “Mad Hatter’s Tea Party” to be more precise.







Next some shots of from the river boat as they “Circle Jungle Island”? The Castle shot slides over to the other page so I tried to include the whole castle in this scan. Notice the castle windows, you can see straight thru them! I don’t think I have ever noticed that in any of the old photos. Obviously this went away when they created the “walk thru” which by the way, I hear rumors it may be coming back!!!






Children’s Saloon? I suppose that’s because they don’t sell alcohol? Those Coke fountains sure look neat! Notice a few things on the Casey Jr. Ride; Nice landscaping for the Canal Boats! Is that a TV camera on a raised platform thing? If so, was this for the opening day broadcast? I thought Casey Jr. didn’t open for about a week after Disneyland opened so what’s up with the camera?





Lots O’ Indians in this picture, real ones! Interesting “Buckboard” ride, I don’t think I’ve seen that on any tickets! Not much to hold the guests in, better hold on tight.






This Life magazine is FULL of great 1955 car ads. I am a vintage car nut, I used to buy and sell them like trading cards, I am much better now. But I sure love looking at these old ads. Since I am mostly a GM fan, the first three are beauties by GM. Then a Mercury, Nash and a Studebaker. I guess Chrysler was not up to spending the advertising dollars to be in Life Magazine.


My first car was a 1956 Buick Super 4-door Riviera hardtop, very much like this 1955 Buick Century.










Even the ink pens were “car crazy” in 1955. Styled in Multimillion-dollar new car colors.






I thru this large two page “Dan River” ad in just because I like it. I’m told the 1950’s really weren’t this fun; it’s just the way everyone wanted it to be. Maybe that wasn’t a bad thing; at least they “wanted” it to be idealistic. Today, I am not so sure….

Boys Life - July 1973

Taking another magazine look at Walt Disney World today we present “Boys Life” (not to be confused with “Nuns Life”) from July 1973. “Boys Life is a magazine published by the Boy Scouts of America. Its targeted readership is young American males between the ages of 6 and 18.”

It’s an interesting article, told from “your” perspective about a trip to the Magic Kingdom. The scans are not slanted, the article itself is slanted! I did the best I could, just tilt your head a little as you read.










I used to study these ads with much care. Even as a kid I knew there had to be a catch to these ads. I’m guessing that selling greeting cards door to door in 1973 might not be as easy as you would think.






Since we are in 1973 and at Walt Disney World, how about a book full of tickets? June 1973.






$5.75, just a few coins higher than Disneyland. Now including 8 adventures, up one from the original 7 in 1971.




Attraction List.






Information Guide for Summer/Fall 1973. Check back on Bonus Sunday for the full guide. (Yes I have already posted a complete WDW 1974 Information Guide, but who knows what changes occurred in a whole year?)

2 Exciting New Plans to Visit Disneyland - 1957

2 Exciting New Plans to Visit Disneyland in 1957. Here’s a fun little pamphlet and I do mean little, its around 4 ¼” by 5 ¼”. A Winter Bonus Plan sounds fun since its been hot here the last few days.





First time for the special guest cards, good to note.






Yes I tried that phone number all night; it’s constantly busy. I guess lots of people are still responding to these great offers. For those younger folks, KEYSTONE would be "KE" or "53" on the Dial, so the number is 535-8171, in the 714 area code of course...






Back of a 1957 Adult Ticket book.






This 1957 book only has one “B” ticket left. I think I’ll use it at the Main Street Shooting Gallery.






Speaking of Shooting Galleries, here is a link to some GREAT photo’s from 1958. These are from “Nick Dewolf’s” collection (link). This photo is from the Frontierland shooting gallery set (link), which would open sometime in 1957. Has anyone ever seen the inside of the Main Street Shooting Gallery? Please share.....






Here are some "Special Bonus Tickets" to go with your ticket book purchase. The expiration dates are 15 days off from the pamphlet date, but close enough.






Here are the “Special Guest Cards” for the big spenders.







As I was looking for some COLOR for this post I figured, how about the cover from the official 1957 “A Complete Guide to Disneyland”! Check back this Bonus Sunday for the “Complete Guide” (the inside is in better shape than the cover).

Knott's Extra Tickets - May 1977

Welcome to Knott's Monday. It's May of 1977, you've spent half your day at Knott's and you have used up all the tickets in your book, what to do? How about 5 more adventures for only $2.75? That's a $4.25 value if you care to do the math.

These ticket books are actually quite rare. Just as with Disneyland ticket books of this style, these were generally only sold inside the park with the express intent of using them right away. No admission ticket was included. This book was not even used and still has all five tickets in it.






Even though you are already in the park, the Knott family is welcoming you again.






These tickets are similar to the "Adventures Club" tickets, each ticket is good on any attraction. These are printed with green ink however, denoting them as "sold in-park" tickets.






"Would you like to receive our famous Christmas Gift Catalog?" Just fill out the back of the welcome message.






Here is the cover to a map of the "Southern California Freeway System and Points of Interest" 1980. I've had this map for while, it's just a basic freeway map, however I always liked the cover. I guess I never looked closely at it, that back of the freeway map is a large heavily stylized Map of Knott's!!! I'll scan it for this coming Bonus Sunday.


See you on tomorrows post.

Bonus Sunday - Double Disney News

Today's Bonus Sunday consists of two "Disney News" magazines. This magazine was the official magazine for Magic Kingdom Club Members. Yes I've been promising a post series on the Magic Kingdom Club, it will come soon I promise.

These magazines are more "text" based than the colorful "Vacationland" magazines, but there is actually a ton of neat information in these. First from the Summer of 1966, lots of new things coming to Disneyland. A few great pics of Walt and lots of fun stuff.


Disney News - Summer 1966 Full scan - (34mb)






Naturally, this is my favorite page from the 1966 Disney News. Date Nite ticket prices!!!!






From the Fall of 1978, this Disney News has much more color and still some neat information. Fun Mickey's fiftieth stuff too.


Disney News - Fall 1978 Full scan - (57mb)






Without a doubt my favorite article in this issue, a teaser about Big Thunder Mountain Railroad! "It could only happen at Disneyland". I think this has become one of my favorite attractions at Disneyland, I underrated and under-rode it for many years, my loss.






Tomorrow: Knott's Monday!